Accused shooter claims he was defending honor of his child's mother

PEORIA — An 18-year-old Peoria man allegedly shot another man to defend the honor of the mother of his child.

Davonta D. Kemp, of 719 W. Russell St., appeared in Peoria County Circuit Court on Wednesday charged with aggravated battery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the Monday evening shooting.

Circuit Judge John Vespa set his bond at $300,000, which is more than the $200,000 sought by prosecutors.

Kemp is accused of shooting Deangelo Patterson in the hip when the two were both in the 700 block of Russell Street. Prosecutor David Kenny said doctors were still evaluating the wound to see how serious it was. Police at the scene Monday described the injury as not life-threatening.

The prosecutor said Kemp had gotten into an argument with Patterson, who is the current boyfriend of the mother of Kemp’s child. Kenny said Patterson allegedly said something that caused Kemp to shoot him, apparently to defend the woman’s honor.

Kenny said Kemp is currently on probation after being convicted in 2013 of possessing a stolen motor vehicle and for burglary as well.

If convicted, Kemp faces up to 30 years in prison. An Aug. 7 preliminary hearing was scheduled.